If you know how to graft roses, you can get two different flower colors on the same plant. Roses are among the easiest plants to graft, and most bushes are the result of grafting a specific color or type of rose onto a stronger, healthier one. Through grafting, you can also achieve the petal color of a diseased plant by using a healthy plant as a rootstock. The branch of the rose that you want to graft onto a different color is called a graft.
The Best Time of Year for Grafting The first thing to consider when deciding to graft a rose or experiment with them at home is the time of year. It is recommended to do this mainly in summer when the sap flows vigorously through the plant. You can also do this if you observe that they grow quickly and appear fresh and radiant. Now, pay attention, and we will start grafting step by step.
Step 1 Clean the knife you intend to use to cut the grafts with cleaning alcohol. This will help prevent the spread of disease during the transplant.
Step 2 Cut a few stems from the rose bush that you want to combine with the others. This is called harvesting cuttings. Cut a section of the stem that contains three buds. Cut the top of the bottom bud and measure two buds, where you should make another cut above the third.
Step 3 Using a utility knife, cut a “V” shape at the bottom end of the cutting.
Step 4 Choose one of the woody branches of the rose plant that you want to use as a base. This should be a biennial plant strain. New growth will not work. Cut off the top of the branch and make a one-inch deep cut in the middle of the branch.
Step 5 Insert the cutting into the cut you made on the trunk of the rootstock. Wrap the graft tightly with tape. The graft should take between four and six weeks to consolidate. Repeat these steps to add more grafts to the rootstock plant. The new rose colors will only grow on the grafted branches.
Post-Transplant Care
Water the grafted plants abundantly and frequently, trying to keep the soil constantly moist for the first 15 days. It is advisable to prune the first shoots from the stem until the plant stabilizes, around the first 2 or 4 shoots, to help consolidate the graft. Remove the tape yourself when the graft starts to grow. Care must be taken to ensure they are supplied with a smoke and compost substrate. Roses typically require space, air and sunlight to thrive. Now that you are informed, there is no excuse not to graft and get beautifully colored roses.
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